Other names

How are they used?

They may be sprayed into a plastic bag, poured into a bottle or soaked onto a cloth or sleeve before being inhaled.

Sometime they are inhaled directly from the container or are sprayed directly into the mouth or nose. This method is very dangerous because it can cause suffocation.2

Effects of inhalants

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug.

Inhalants affect everyone differently, based on:

Size, weight and health

Whether the person is used to taking it

Whether other drugs are taken around the same time

The amount taken

The strength of the drug

Amount of fresh air breathed while sniffing

Amount of physical activity before and after sniffing

Sniffing can cause:

Intoxication

Nausea

Headaches

Injuries

Delirium

Seizures

Pneumonia from inhaling vomit

Dependence

Brain damage

Coma

Abnormal heart rhythm

Sudden death

Asphyxiation (if using a plastic bag)7

Sniffing is always risky, but some situations make it even more dangerous:

Sniffing in an enclosed space or indoors

Running or doing other physical activity after sniffing (could cause death due to cardiac sensitisation)

Mixing sniffing with medicines or illegal drugs

Sniffing when the person has other health problems7

Overdose

If you inhale a substance many times or use a particularly strong inhalant, you could overdose. If you have any of the symptoms below, call an ambulance straight away by dialling triple zero (000). Ambulance officers don’t need to involve the police.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea

Irregular heartbeat

Chest pain

Hallucinations

Blackout, seizures and coma1,3

Sudden sniffing death

Inhaling aerosol sprays, cleaning and correction fluids, and model aeroplane cement has been known to cause sudden death. It is believed that chemicals in these products can cause heart failure, particularly if the person is stressed or does heavy exercise after inhaling. This is very rare.4

Low aromatic fuels

Unleaded petrol has been replaced by low aromatic fuels such as BP’s Opal fuel in some rural and remote communities in Australia. Sniffing low aromatic fuels does not produce a high, but can still cause damage to a person’s health including death.5

See Reducing harms of fuel inhalation with low aromatic fuel.

Coming down

In the days after inhalant use, you may experience:

Headache

Nausea

Dizziness

Drowsiness

Mental numbness1

Long-term effects

Regular use of inhalants may eventually cause:

Irritability and depression

Memory loss

Reduced attention span and ability to think clearly

Pimples around the mouth and lips

Pale appearance

Tremors

Weight loss

Tiredness

Excessive thirst

Loss of sense of smell and hearing

Problems with blood production, which may result in anaemia, irregular heartbeat, heart muscle damage

Chest pain and angina

Indigestion and stomach ulcers

Liver and kidney damage

Needing to use more to get the same effect

Dependence on inhalants

Financial, work and social problems1,3

Most of these long-term effects can be reversed if use is stopped. However, some inhalants, such as cleaning products, correction fluid, aerosol sprays and petrol can cause permanent damage.4

Some chemicals can build up in the body and damage the stomach, intestines, brain, nervous system, kidneys and liver.4

Using inhalants with other drugs

The effects of taking inhalants with other drugs – including over-the-counter or prescribed medications – can be unpredictable and dangerous, and could include:

Inhalants + alcohol, benzodiazepines or opiates: enormous strain on the body, and can affect breathing rate and may increase the risk of passing out and suffocating or choking on vomit.6

Withdrawal

Giving up inhalants after using them for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without them. Withdrawal symptoms usually start 24-48 hours after the last use, and may last for 2 to 5 days.4 These symptoms can include:

Inhalant use is not a criminal offence in any Australian state or territory.

In recent years, some Australian states and territories have revised police powers to intervene in inhalant use in two main ways. Police are authorised to:

Take away inhalants and related equipment

Pick up young people who are misusing inhalants, and release them into the care of a responsible person, or a place of safety.

It is also illegal in some states and territories to sell or supply products to someone if they believe they are to be used for inhaling.

State/territory legislation on inhalant sales

It is an offence in Queensland, Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and the Northern Territory to knowingly supply an inhalant to a person for the purpose of intentional inhalation.